Flush closing multi-panel passage door assembly



FLUSH CLOSING MULTI-PANEL PASSAGE DOOR ASSEMBLY Filed March 23. 1964 Jan. 4, 1966 KOLLSMAN ETAL 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Paul K0ll$man Joseph Radanyz Vicfor M. Saudek BY-{h- AA 412441.112

A TTOR/VE Y Jan. 4, 1966 P. KOLLSMAN ETAL 3,226,778

FLUSH CLOSING MULTL-PANEL PASSAGE DOOR ASSEMBLY Filed March 23. 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 way/VJ INVENTOR. Paul Kbllsmdf; Joseph Radanyz ViclorMSau fuui ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,226,778 FLUSH CLOSING MULTI-PANEL PASSAGE DOOR ASSEMBLY Paul Kollsman, 100 E. 50th St., New York, N.Y.; Joseph Radanyi, 1441 Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills, Calif.; and

Victor M. Saudek, 7916 McConnell Ave., Los Angeles, a

Calif.

Filed Mar. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 353,753

4 Claims. (CI. 20-19) of our previous application Serial No. 172,170, filed February 9, 1962, and now abandoned.

This invention relates to improvements in flush closing multi-panel passage doors. Flush closing multi-panel p This application is a continuation-in-part application a doors are favored in installations where appearance considerations require avoidance of the stepped or staggered appearance of door panels mounted for movement in separate parallel planes as a result of which the end edges of the individual door panels remain visible when the panels are in the position in which they close the door aperture.

Multiple door panel arrangements are known in which two or more door panels are supported on a common bottom track long enough to accommodate two or three door panels side-by-side in flush arrangement and wide enough to accommodate two doors one behind the other.

In the known construction a plurality of springs associated with the bottom track act on the door panels from the rear and urge the door bottoms against a front lip on the track.

The present invention relates to passage doors in which the doors must be capable of being displaced in both directions normal to the plane of the doors, as a person may approach the door from one side or the other. Th1s cannot be accomplished by the known construction employing biasing springs.

In addition biasing assemblies employing biasing springs involve numerous other disadvantages. The point of engagement at which the spring force is exerted on the door panels in the known construction shifts as the door is being moved from side to side. near the center when the door is closed, but it acts on the door near one end when the door is being depressed and slid partially behind another. Also, the spring force is For example, it is uneven, depending on whether the spring is deflected It is therefore necessary in the employment of a biasing spring force to make the force suflicient fordependable operation of the heaviest door panel in the condition of even minimum spring deflection. Such force is obviously far in excess of that required for the lighter panels which then become unnecessarily hard to move.

Lastly, spring assemblies associated with the bottom door track are unsightly when the doors are open, and tend to collect dirt and dust.

The invention avoids springs biasing means and employs in their place, a sloping bottom track of essentially V profile whose slope extends throughout the entire range of door movement from side to side, the slope angle being preferably the same for both legs of the V.

The double sloped V track is by no means an equivalent of the known spring biasing means.

In the first place, it is effective for passage in both directions, which a biasing spring device is not.

Furthermore, the biasing force imparted to a door panel is determined by the weight of that same door panel and is greater for a heavier door panel than it is for a light one. Thus the sloping bottom track construction may be considered as self-regulating with respect to force, which aspring device is not. The latter must be matched to the heaviest panel and makes lighter panels needlessly hard to move. The sloping track surface employed by the present invention permits door panels to be moved with little effort, light panels with less efiort than heavier panels.

It is known in this connection to set a stationary glass panel in a bottom channel which is oversize in width with respect to the panel thickness. The known channel comprises a slanted bottom for the purpose of urging the panel into close fitting engagement with the front face of the frame or channel in which it is mounted.

It is further known to mount a sliding glass panel in a similarly oversize channel in order to urge the panel forward into better sealing position than would be obtained without the slant. In the known arrangement no automatic regulation of the biasing force is achieved, as the stationary panel and the movable panel each rests in its own channel and no rearward displacement or interchange of the panels is provided as it is in the present invention where an interchange of the panels is possible.

In the known arrangement the channel is of substantially V shape and the lowest portion of the channel is adjacent the front lip of the channel. In the V channel or track employed by the invention the lowest portion of the track is at the center or apex of the V, and it is this arrangement which permits displacement of one door panel behind another by displacing it behind the other panel onto one slanted surface of the V, when approaching the door from one direction, and by displacing the one door panel in the opposite direction onto the other slanted surface of the V when approaching the door from the opposite direction.

These and various other objects, features and advantages of this invention will appear more fully from the detailed description which follows accompanied by drawings showing, for the purpose of illustration, a preferred embodiment of the invention. The invention also resides in certain new and original features of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the characteristic features of this invention which are believed to be novel will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of it in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flush panel passage door assembly embodying the invention; and

FIG. *2 is an end view partially in section of the assembly, the section being taken on line 2-2 in FIG. 1.-

In the following description and in the claims various details will be identified by specific names for convenience. The names, however, are intended to be generic in their application. Corresponding reference characters refer to corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The drawings accompanying, and forming part of, this specification disclose certain specific details of construction for the purpose of explanation'of broader aspects of the invention, but it is understood that structural details may be modified in various respects without departure from the principles of the invention and that the invention may be incorporated in other structural forms than shown.

Rooms A and B are separated by a flush panel passage door assembly generally designated C and comprising a plurality of panels 11, 12, 13, 14 of equal or unequal width, as may be desired for functional or decorative reasons.

As shown more particularly in FIG. 2, the door panels are guided in two opposite tracks, a sill track 15 and a top track 16. These tracks may consist of metal or plastic material, are preferably extruded or molded, and require only cutting to length to fit a particular installation.

The tracks comprise a generally concave V- or U-shaped door engaging surface 17, 18 which faces up in the sill track and down in the top track. The lowest portion of the track 15 is designated 19.

The shape of the edge of the track is optional. It may be beveled as shown at 26, the beveled shape being preferred where the adjacent floor 21 is hardwood, or overlaid with linoleum or other synthetic sheet floor covering, or the edge may be squared as shown at 22 to fit carpeting 23. The limits of the door engaging surfaces 17 and 18 are defined by lips 24, 25 and 26, 27 which prevent the doors from leaving the tracks when being pushed in the direction towards room A or room B, respectively.

The door panels rest on the bottom track on suitable antifriction devices on which each panel, by reason of its own weight, tends to move down the inclined surface 17 towards the center 19. Such antifriction devices may be made from metal, or from low friction plastics, tetrafluoroethylene polymer plastic, known to the trade as Teflon being a preferred example of the latter. These antifriction devices may assume different forms.

FIG. 2 shows a ball 28 held in a socket 29 fitted in a suitable bore 30 in the panel bottom. The ball rests in a spherical seat 31 of the socket 29.

The panel tops are equally centered with respect to the center line of the bottom track, so as to maintain the panels vertical on the bottom track. While pairs of oppositely disposed spring assemblies of the type known per se in closet and cabinet doors may be used for this purpose, it is preferred to employ a concave track assembly corresponding to the bottom panel support for this purpose.

A ball 128 rests in a spherical seat 131 in a socket 129. The socket 129 has a stem 32 on it provided with a flange or shoulder 33. A helical compression spring 34 rests against this shoulder with one end, and the other end of the spring rests on the bottom of a cylindrical sleeve 35 fitted in a bore 36 in the panel top. The bore 36 is concentric with a larger bore 36 accommodating the socket 129. Both bores may be drilled simultaneously with a combination tool.

The stem 32 is centered and guided within the sleeve 35 by a narrow neck 37 at the top and a hole 38 at the bottom through which the stem extends. The neck portion 37 comprises an enlarged flange 39 with which the sleeve rests on the bottom of the large diameter bore 36, thus preventing the sleeve from slipping to the bottom of the bore 36.

Under the force of the spring 34 the ball 128 seeks to assume a position of greatest distance from the bottom ball 28. This is the position in which the ball contacts the roof 42 or highest point of the top track surface 18. If displaced towards room A or B or, what amounts to the same, towards lip 26 or 27, the guiding elements of the panel tops return the panels to a centered position.

The operation of the door assembly is now evident. In order to open the door, a panel is pushed back and slid behind another. Thus panel 13 was slid behind panel 12 from room A. Panel 11 was slid behind panel 12 (as viewed from room B) in a similar manner.

In order to reduce the friction between the door panels and in order to prevent scratch marks on the finished panel surface, low friction spacer strips 40 are installed adjacent the top and bottom edges of the panels.

The elements 128, 129, 34 which guide the door panels within the top track 16 also operate by reason of the force of the spring 34 to increase the weight with which the door panels rest on the bottom track.

Thus the springs in effect increase the force which tends to restore the panel to a centered position within the bottom track after having been displaced towards the front or the back so as to rest on the slanted or sloping portion 17 of the track.

What is claimed is:

1. A flush closing sliding passage door assembly for .a structural door opening, the assembly comprising, in combination, a plurality of sliding doors; a common door supporting bottom sill on which the door bottoms are movable with freedom to move from side to side as well as at right angles thereto, said sill having a door supporting upper surface of a shallow substantially symmetrical V-profile in cross section within the range of movement of the doors from side to side and of a depth sufiicient to accommodate two doors in a position in which one door is in its lowest position, centered with respect to the bottom of the V, and the other door is in register with the one door and rests in a higher position -on either one of the two legs of the V, the legs of the V being substantially symmetrical with respect to the V bottom and sufliciently steep to impart to a door resting on one of the legs by gravity a bias to move into the lowest, centered position with respect to the profile in all positions within said range; and guide means including spring means positioned between the top of the door opening and the top portion of each door for urging the top portion towards a centered position with respect to the sill profile, said guide means being of a depth suflicient to accommodate two doors in a position one behind the other.

2. A flush closing sliding passage door assembly for a structural door opening, the assembly comprising, in combination, a plurality of sliding doors; a common door supporting bottom sill on which the door bottoms are movable with freedom to move from side to side as well as at right angles thereto, said sill having a door support- 1ng upper surface of a profile of substantially V-shape in cross section within the range of movement of the doors from side to side and of a depth sufiicient to accommodate two doors in a position in which one door is in its lowest posltion, centered with respect to the bottom of the V, and the other door is in register with the one door and rests in a higher position on one of the legs of the V, the legs of the V being suflieiently steep to impart to the doors under the influence of gravity a bias to move into the lowest, centered position with respect to the profile; and guide means for engaging the top portion of the doors at the top of the opening, said guide means comprising a trough shaped member having a concave profile facing said sill and extending throughout the range of movement of the doors from side to side; a tracking element for the top of each door; and means for mounting said tracking element on the top of the door to bear with resilient force against said trough shaped member.

3. An assembly as set forth in the preceding claim 2 in which said trough shaped member is of the profile of an inverted V.

4. A flush closing sliding passage door assembly for a structural door opening, the assembly comprising, in combmatron, at least three sliding doors; a common door supporting bottom sill in which the door bottoms are movable with freedom to move from side to side as well as at right angles thereto, said sill having a door supporting upper surface of a shallow V-profile in cross section within the range of movement of the doors from side to side and of a depth sufiicient to accommodate two doors in a position in which one door is in its lowest position,

centered with respect to the bottom of the V, and the other door is in register with the one door and rests in a higher position on either one of the two legs of the V, the legs of the V being substantially symmetrical with respect to the V bottom and sufliciently steep to impart to a door resting on one of the legs by gravity a bias to move into the lowest, centered position with respect to the profile in all positions within said range; and guide means including spring means positioned between the top of the door opening and the top'portion of each door for urging the respective top portion towards a centered position with respect to the sill profile, said guide means being of a depth sufiicient to accommodate three door-s in a position one behind the other.

References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS 8/ 1936 Great Britain.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FLUSH CLOSING SLIDING PASSAGE DOOR ASSEMBLY FOR A STRUCTURAL DOOR OPENING, THE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A PLURALITY OF SLIDING DOORS; A COMMON DOOR SUPPORTING BOTTOM SILL ON WHICH THE DOOR BOTTOMS ARE MOVABLE WITH FREEDOM TO MOVE FROM SIDE TO SIDE AS WELL AS AT RIGHT ANGLES THERETO, SAID STILL HAVING A DOOR SUPPORTING UPPER SURFACE OF A SHALLOW SUBSTANTIALLY SYMMETRICAL V-PROFILE IN CROSS SECTION WITHIN THE RANGE OF MOVEMENT OF THE DOORS FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND OF A DEPTH SUFFICIENT TO ACCOMMODATE TWO DOORS IN A POSITION IN WHICH ONE DOOR IS IN ITS LOWER POSITION, CENTERED WITH RESPECT TO THE BOTTOM OF THE V, AND THE OTHER DOOR IS IN REGISTER WITH THE ONE DOOR AND RESTS IN A HIGHER POSITION ON EITHER ONE OF THE TWO LEGS OF THE V, THE LEGS OF THE V BEING SUBSTANTIALLY SYMMETRICAL WITH RESPECT TO THE V BOTTOM AND SUFFICIENTLY STEEP TO IMPART TO A DOOR RESTING ON ONE OF THE LEGS BY GRAVITY A BIAS TO MOVE INTO THE LOWEST, CENTERED POSITION WITH RESPECT TO THE PROFILE IN ALL POSITIONS WITHIN SAID RANGE; AND GUIDE MEANS INCLUDING SPRING MEANS POSITIONED BETWEEN THE TOP OF THE DOOR OPENING AND THE TOP PORTION OF EACH DOOR FOR URGING THE TOP PORTION TOWARDS A CENTERED POSITION WITH RESPECT TO THE SILL PROFILE, SAID GUIDE MEANS BEING OF A DEPTH SUFFICIENT TO ACCOMMODATE TWO DOORS IN A POSITION ONE BEHIND THE OTHER. 